The Bonds are obligations solely of the District and are not obligations of the State of Texas, Montgomery County, the City of Houston, or any entity other than the District. Payment of the principal of and interest on the Bonds depends upon the ability of the District to collect taxes levied on taxable property within the District in an amount sufficient to service the District’s bonded debt or, in the event of foreclosure, on the value of the taxable property in the District and the taxes levied by the District and other taxing authorities upon the property within the District. See “THE BONDS—Source and Security of Payment.” The collection by the District of delinquent taxes owed to it and the enforcement by Registered Owners of the District’s obligation to collect sufficient taxes may be a costly and lengthy process. Furthermore, the District cannot and does not make any representations that continued development of taxable property within the District will accumulate or maintain taxable values sufficient to justify continued payment of taxes by property owners or that there will be a market for the property or that owners of the property will have the ability to pay taxes. See “Registered Owners’
Remedies” below.
Infectious Disease Outlook (COVID-19)
The World Health Organization has declared a pandemic following the outbreak of COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus (the “Pandemic”), which is currently affecting many parts of the world, including the United States and Texas. On January 31, 2020, the Secretary of the United States Health and Human Services Department declared a public health emergency for the United States in connection with COVID-19. On March 13, 2020, the President of the United States (the “President”) declared the Pandemic a national emergency and the Texas Governor (the “Governor”) declared COVID-19 an imminent threat of disaster for all counties in Texas (collectively, the “disaster declarations”). On March 25, 2020, in response to a request from the Governor, the President issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Texas.
Since the disaster declarations were made, the Pandemic has negatively affected travel, commerce, and financial markets locally and globally, and is widely expected to continue negatively affecting economic growth and financial markets worldwide and within Texas. Stock values and crude oil prices, in the U.S. and globally, have seen significant volatility attributed to COVID-19 concerns. Texas may be particularly at risk from any global slowdown, given the prevalence of international trade in the state and the risk of contraction in the oil and gas industry and spillover effects into other industries.
Such adverse economic conditions, if they continue, could result in declines in the demand for residential and commercial property in the Houston area and could reduce or negatively affect property values within the District. The Bonds are secured by an unlimited ad valorem tax, and a reduction in property values may require an increase in the ad valorem tax rate required to pay the Bonds as well as the District’s share of operations and maintenance expenses payable from ad valorem taxes.
While the potential impact of the Pandemic on the District cannot be quantified at this time, the continued outbreak of the Pandemic could have an adverse effect on the District’s operations and financial condition. The financial and operating data contained herein are the latest available, but are as of dates and for periods partially prior to the economic impact of the Pandemic and measures instituted to slow it. Accordingly, they are not indicative of the economic impact of the Pandemic on the District’s financial condition.
Potential Effects of Oil Price Volatility on the Houston Area
The recent volatility in oil prices in the U.S. and globally, which at times have led to the lowest prices in three decades, may lead to adverse conditions in the oil and gas industry, including but not limited to reduced revenues, declines in capital and operating expenditures, business failures, and layoffs of workers. The economy of the Houston area has, in the past, been particularly affected by adverse conditions in the oil and gas industry, and such conditions and their spillover effects into other industries could result in declines in the demand for residential and commercial property in the Houston area and could reduce or negatively affect property values or homebuilding activity within the District. As previously stated, the Bonds are secured by an unlimited ad valorem tax, and a reduction in property values may require an increase in the ad valorem tax rate required to pay the Bonds as well as the District’s share of operations and maintenance expenses payable from ad valorem taxes.
Severe Weather Events; Hurricane Harvey
The greater Houston area, including the District, is subject to occasional severe weather events, including tropical storms, winter storms and hurricanes. If the District were to sustain damage to its facilities requiring substantial repair or replacement, or if substantial damage were to occur to taxable property within the District as a result of such a weather event, the investment security of the Bonds could be adversely affected. The greater Houston area has experienced multiple storms exceeding a 0.2% probability (i.e. “500‐year flood” events) since 2015, including Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast on August 26, 2017, and brought historic levels of rainfall during the successive four days.
According to the District’s Operator, the District’s System sustained some damage but was returned to operation within 1 day as a result of Hurricane Harvey. To the best knowledge of the District, approximately 50 homes and some commercial businesses within the District experienced water incursions as a result of Hurricane Harvey.
If a future weather event significantly damaged all or part of the improvements within the District, the assessed value of property within the District could be substantially reduced, which could result in a decrease in tax revenues and/or necessitate an increase the District’s tax rate. Further, there can be no assurance that a casualty loss to taxable property within the District will be covered by insurance (or that property owners will even carry flood or other casualty insurance), that any insurance company will fulfill its obligation to provide insurance proceeds, or that insurance proceeds will be used to rebuild or repair any damaged improvements within the District. Even if insurance proceeds are available and improvements are rebuilt, there could be a lengthy period in which assessed values within the District could be adversely affected.
Specific Flood Type Risks
River (or Fluvial) Flood: occurs when water levels rise over the top of river, bayou or channel banks due to excessive rain from tropical systems making landfall and/or persistent thunderstorms over the same area for extended periods of time. The damage from a riverine flood can be widespread. The overflow can affect smaller rivers and streams downstream, or may sheetflow overland. Flash flooding is a type of riverine flood that is characterized by an intense, high velocity torrent of water that occurs in an existing river channel with little to no notice. Flash floods are very dangerous and destructive not only because of the force of the water, but also the hurtling debris that is often swept up in the flow. They can occur within minutes or a few hours of excessive rainfall. They can also occur even if no rain has fallen, for instance, after a levee or dam has failed, or after a sudden release of water by a debris or ice jam. Controlled releases from a dam or levee also could potentially create a flooding condition in rivers or man-made drainage systems (canals or channels) downstream.
Ponding (or Pluvial) Flood: occurs when heavy rainfall creates a flood event independent of an overflowing water body, typically in relatively flat areas. Intense rainfall can over capacitate a drainage system which becomes trapped and flows out into streets and nearby structures until it reaches a natural outlet. Ponding can also occur in a flood pool upstream or behind a dam or levee.
Atlas 14
The National Weather Service recently completed a rainfall study knows as NOAA Atlas 14, Volume 11 Precipitation-Frequency Atlas of the United States (“Atlas 14”). Floodplain boundaries within the District may be redrawn based upon the Atlas 14 study, which is based upon a higher statistical rainfall amount, resulting in interim floodplain regulations applying to a larger number of properties. Such regulations could additionally result in higher insurance rates, increased development fees and stricter building codes for any property located within the expanded boundaries of the floodplain. See “THE SYSTEM—Atlas 14.”
Tax Collection Limitations and Foreclosure Remedies
The District’s ability to make debt service payments may be adversely affected by its inability to collect ad valorem taxes. Under Texas law, the levy of ad valorem taxes by the District constitutes a lien in favor of the District on a parity with the liens of all other state and local taxing authorities on the property against which taxes are levied, and such lien may be enforced by foreclosure. The District’s ability to collect ad valorem taxes through such foreclosure may be impaired by (a) cumbersome, time consuming and expensive collection procedures, (b) a bankruptcy court’s stay of tax collection procedure against a taxpayer, or (c) market conditions limiting the proceeds from a foreclosure sale of taxable property. While the District has a lien on taxable property within the District for taxes levied against such property, such lien can be foreclosed only in a judicial proceeding. Attorney’s fees and other costs of collecting any such taxpayer’s delinquencies could substantially reduce the net proceeds to the District from a tax foreclosure sale. Finally, a bankruptcy court with jurisdiction over bankruptcy proceedings initiated by or against a taxpayer within the District pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Code could stay any attempt by the District to collect delinquent ad valorem taxes against such taxpayer. In addition to the automatic stay against collection of delinquent taxes afforded a taxpayer during the pendency of a bankruptcy, a bankruptcy could affect payment of taxes in two other ways: first, a debtor’s confirmation plan may allow a debtor to make installment payments on delinquent taxes for up to six years; and, second, a debtor may challenge, and a bankruptcy court may reduce, the amount of any taxes assessed against the debtor, including taxes that have already been paid. See “TAX PROCEDURES—District’s Rights in the Event of Tax Delinquencies.”
Registered Owners’ Remedies
If the District defaults in the payment of principal, interest, or redemption price on the Bonds when due, or if it fails to make payments into any fund or funds created in the Bond Order, or defaults in the observation or performance of any other covenants, conditions, or obligations set forth in the Bond Order, the Registered Owners have the right to seek a writ of mandamus issued by a court of competent jurisdiction requiring the District and its officials to observe and perform the covenants, obligations, or conditions prescribed in the Bond Order. Except for mandamus, the Bond Order does not specifically provide for remedies to protect and enforce the interests of the Registered Owners. There is no acceleration of maturity of the Bonds in the event of default and, consequently, the remedy of mandamus may have to be relied upon from year to year. Further, there is no trust indenture or trustee, and all legal actions to enforce such remedies would have to be undertaken at the initiative of, and be financed by, the Registered Owners.
Statutory language authorizing local governments such as the District to sue and be sued does not waive the local government’s sovereign immunity from suits for money damages so that in the absence of other waivers of such immunity by the Texas Legislature, a default by the District in its covenants in the Bond Order may not be reduced to a judgment for money damages. Even if a judgment against the District for money damages could be obtained, it could not be enforced by direct levy and execution against the District's property. Further, the Beneficial Owners cannot themselves foreclose on property within the District or sell property within the District to enforce the tax lien on taxable property to pay the principal of and interest on the Bonds. The enforceability of the rights and remedies of the Beneficial Owners may further be limited by a State of Texas statute reasonably required to attain an important public purpose or by laws relating to bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar laws of general application affecting the rights of creditors of political subdivisions, such as the District.
Bankruptcy Limitation to Registered Owners’ Rights
Subject to the requirements of Texas law, the District may voluntarily proceed under Chapter 9 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Sections 901-946, if the District: (1) is authorized to file for federal bankruptcy protection by Texas law; (2) is insolvent or unable to meet its debts as they mature; (3) desires to effect a plan to adjust such debts; and (4) has either obtained the agreement of or negotiated in good faith with its creditors or is unable to negotiate with its creditors because negotiation is impracticable. Under Texas law, the District must also obtain the approval of the Commission prior to filing bankruptcy. Such law requires that the Commission investigate the financial conditions of the District and authorize the District to proceed only if the District has fully exercised its rights and powers under Texas law and remains unable to meet its debts and other obligations as they mature.
Notwithstanding noncompliance by a district with Texas law requirements, the District could file a voluntary bankruptcy petition under Chapter 9, thereby invoking the protection of the automatic stay until the bankruptcy court, after a hearing, dismisses the petition. A federal bankruptcy court is a court of equity and federal bankruptcy judges have considerable discretion in the conduct of bankruptcy proceedings and in making the decision of whether to grant the petitioning District relief from its creditors. While such a decision might be appealable, the concomitant delay and loss of remedies to the Registered Owner could potentially and adversely impair the value of the Registered Owner’s claim.
If the District decides in the future to proceed voluntarily under the federal Bankruptcy Code, the District could develop and file a plan for the adjustment of its debts. If such a plan were confirmed by the bankruptcy court, it could, among other things, affect the Registered Owners by reducing or eliminating the interest rate or the principal amount, modifying or abrogating collateral or security arrangements, substituting (in whole or in part) other securities, and
Environmental and Air Quality Regulations
Wastewater treatment, water supply, storm sewer facilities and construction activities within the District are subject to complex environmental laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels that may require or prohibit certain activities that affect the environment, such as:
Requiring permits for construction and operation of water wells, wastewater treatment and other facilities;
Restricting the manner in which wastes are treated and released into the air, water and soils;
Restricting or regulating the use of wetlands or other properties; or
Requiring remedial action to prevent or mitigate pollution.
Sanctions against a municipal utility district or other type of special purpose district for failure to comply with environmental laws and regulations may include a variety of civil and criminal enforcement measures, including assessment of monetary penalties, imposition of remedial requirements and issuance of injunctions to ensure future compliance. Environmental laws and compliance with environmental laws and regulations can increase the cost of planning, designing, constructing and operating water production and wastewater treatment facilities. Environmental laws can also inhibit growth and development within the District. Further, changes in regulations occur frequently, and any changes that result in more stringent and costly requirements could materially impact the District.
Air Quality Issues: Air quality control measures required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (the “TCEQ”) may impact new industrial, commercial and residential development in the Houston area. Under the Clean Air Act (“CAA”) Amendments of 1990, the eight-county Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area (“HGB Area”)—Harris, Galveston, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Waller, Montgomery and Liberty Counties—has been designated a nonattainment area under three separate federal ozone standards: the one-hour (124 parts per billion (“ppb”)) and eight-one-hour (84 ppb) standards promulgated by the EPA in 1997 (the “1997 Ozone Standards”); the tighter, eight-hour ozone standard of 75 ppb promulgated by the EPA in 2008 (the “2008 Ozone Standard”), and the EPA’s most-recent promulgation of an even lower, 70 ppb eight-hour ozone standard in 2015 (the
“2015 Ozone Standard”). While the State of Texas has been able to demonstrate steady progress and improvements in air quality in the HGB Area, the HGB Area remains subject to CAA nonattainment requirements.
While the EPA has revoked the 1997 Ozone Standards, the EPA historically has not formally redesignated nonattainment areas for a revoked standard. As a result, the HGB Area remained subject to continuing severe nonattainment area “anti-backsliding” requirements, despite the fact that HGB Area air quality has been attaining the 1997 Ozone Standards since 2014. In late 2015, the EPA approved the TCEQ’s “redesignation substitute” for the HGB Area under the revoked 1997 Ozone Standards, leaving the HGB Area subject only to the nonattainment area requirements under the 2008 Ozone Standard (and later, the 2015 Ozone Standard).
In February 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion in South Coast Air Quality Management District v. EPA, 882 F.3d 1138 (D.C. Cir. 2018) vacating the EPA redesignation substitute rule that provided the basis for the EPA’s decision to eliminate the anti-backsliding requirements that had applied in the HGB Area under the 1997 Ozone Standard. The court has not responded to the EPA’s April 2018 request for rehearing of the case. To address the uncertainty created by the South Coast court’s ruling, the TCEQ developed a formal request that the HGB Area be redesignated to attainment under the 1997 Ozone Standards. The TCEQ Commissioners adopted the request and maintenance plan for the 1997 one-hour and eight-hour standards on December 12, 2018. On May 16, 2019, the EPA proposed a determination that the HGB Area has met the redesignation criteria and continues to attain the 1997 one-hour and eight-hour standards, the termination of the anti-backsliding obligations, and approval of the proposed maintenance plan.
The HGB Area is currently designated as a “serious” nonattainment area under the 2008 Ozone Standard, with an attainment deadline of July 20, 2021. If the EPA ultimately determines that the HGB Area has failed to meet the attainment deadline based on the relevant data, the area is subject to reclassification to a nonattainment classification that provides for more stringent controls on emissions from the industrial sector. In addition, the EPA may impose a moratorium on the awarding of federal highway construction grants and other federal grants for certain public works construction projects if it finds that an area fails to demonstrate progress in reducing ozone levels.
The HGB Area is currently designated as a “marginal” nonattainment area under the 2015 Ozone Standard, with an attainment deadline of August 3, 2021. For purposes of the 2015 Ozone Standard, the HGB Area consists of only six counties: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, and Montgomery Counties.
The HGB Area is currently designated as a “marginal” nonattainment area under the 2015 Ozone Standard, with an attainment deadline of August 3, 2021. For purposes of the 2015 Ozone Standard, the HGB Area consists of only six counties: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, and Montgomery Counties.